Lent 2023 day 45

 I had the loveliest day yesterday. Church laid on afternoon tea, free for anyone in the village or church who wanted to come and about 40 people, mainly elderly ladies came along to enjoy fine china, linen tablecloths and loads of delicious food.  As I stood in the kitchen looking through the serving hatch at the bustle and fellowship and feasting that was going on I felt two things.  

1) I was struck by the honour it was to serve these older ladies (hardly any of whom I know) with tea and buns.  This is what Jesus would have been doing today if He'd been here on earth.  Its simple, there are no strings attached. The only agenda is to be a blessing.  Most of these ladies dont come to our church but they increasingly come to events we put on. And so we are building community.

2) I was incredibly proud of us as a church  ( and Rory our pastor in particular) for the heart and service and sense of fun.  We are good news in our little location.  Afternoon tea is just one of many many events we put on across the year.  Before the tea started there was a video gaming bus parked outside full of teenagers drinking milkshakes, playing and hanging out. Our youth leaders were chatting and serving and mingling as they finished up a 3 day Easter scheme we have been running this week. We are a small church. I have no idea what proportion of our budget is spent on blessing our community but its probably alot.  Although God is always showing up in amazing ways to provide stuff.  We are truly blessed as we are being a blessing.

God said to Abraham that his offspring would be a blessing to the whole earth. 



Sometimes I think we get hung up on evangelising and winning souls.  But being a blessing is so much easier and it is so great for us as well as those we are serving. Jesus reveals Himself as we shine just by being who we are.  People are drawn to kindness, fun and generosity.  In a world where nothing is free and everyone is after something it is so refreshing to be given something with a smile and no expectation of anything in return

Lets be a big blessing to everyone this Easter.

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